Travel for Hajj and Umrah

Hajj and Umrah Travel Guidelines

Each year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims travel to Makkah, Saudi-Arabia to perform Umrah and Hajj. Such travel requires various logistical planning on the part of the pilgrims that includes applying for visa, travel plans, lodging and boarding while in Makkah and Madinah Saudi-Arabia and other such planning.

To make the process easier, the Saudi government has made it very easy for pilgrims to apply for visas. Certified travel agencies can now apply for visas on pilgrims' behalf directly through the Saudi consulate.

As there is a specific quota for pilgrims attending Hajj, pilgrims should apply much in advance for the Hajj and Umrah travel visas. As for Umrah, the Saudi Consulate Office in Washington DC states that Umrah visas are issued each year from the beginning of the month of Safar to the beginning of the month of Ramadan.

Most of such travel agencies also team up with various Hajj and Umrah groups to provide lodging and boarding services along with providing guidance to pilgrims while they are in Makkah Saudi-Arabia. The cost of such travel groups vary and go higher for better living arrangements, the length of stay that the pilgrim requires in Makkah and Al-Madinah, lodging proximity to the Haram (Makkah and Al-Madinah) mosques. For more information regarding hotels in Makkah, visit Makkah Hotels.

Ladies are discouraged from traveling alone. The Saudi government (based on Islamic laws) require ladies to travel with a Mahram. The Saudi government laws do change in this regard and pilgrims should check with the Saudi consulate and travel agency for specific details in this regard. Usually, women traveling with a male mahram are requried to submit proof of kinship with the application form. The Saudi consulate at times does allow ladies over the age of forty-five (45) to travel without a Mahram, provided she is traveling with with an organized group and submits a letter of no objection from her husband, son or brother authorizing her to travel for Umrah / Hajj with the named Hajj travel group.

Check Umrah Visas: Requirements & Instructions for more details.

Visas for Hajj and Umrah